For this reflection, the chosen groups that were observed were Group Work Therapy (GWT), Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). GWT is a course that covers the basic fundamental of group practice and direction as well as procedure and systems regularly used to facilitate group therapy discussions. This is an online course that meet on a regular basis, there has been two scheduled live sessions, one on 9/6 and 10/18, that were observed for this reflection. There are 13 participates in the group, some of which did not participate in the live meeting on the 10/18th. AL-Anon is a group that was formed to help the families effected by alcoholism (Van Wormer, K. & Davis, D.R. 2013). In Ohio, there are groups that meet on a daily basis from 6am until midnight. You can find an Al-Anon meeting in many neighborhoods throughout Cincinnati. For the purpose of this reflection, the group was observed twice on a Monday night and a Wednesday night at the same location on October 3rd and October 5th. There were roughly 20-30 participants in the group on both nights and the facilitator was different each night observed. The theme of the meetings on those nights was covering steps 10 and 12 of the 12 step program. The group would break into small groups, so for the purpose of this reflection, the beginners group was observed. The facilitator stated that he was giving the guy that usually facilitate a break. So the assumption is, that there is a guy that usually conducts the meetings but
Addictions is something that many people in the community face. Being able to have a support group in the community can help in the recovery process. This writer was able to attend two different support groups for different addictions. The first group this writer attended was an Alcohol Anonymous support group (AA). The second group attended was Over Eaters Anonymous support group (OA). It took this writer three tries before a meeting was found. When this writer looked online for a meeting, the first location visited, a gentleman stated there has not been an AA meeting held there in eight years. Another gentleman at the second location stated it has been five years since it was a meeting location; when it held meetings, it was for Hispanic
Before Al-Anon was placed into practice, Bill W. and Dr. Bob began meeting to build a foundation for individuals who were trying to recover from their alcohol addiction. Family groups were officially put into place in 1935 and that is when family members of alcoholics decided to accompany their loved ones to the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. As these family members participated in the AA meetings they found it helpful to be able to discuss their unique positions they were in and enjoyed living by the AA’s Twelve Steps program. They believed that the twelve steps offered them a better chance to repair the hurt caused to the families of AA members as well as help them cope with life while their
Alcoholics Anonymous is a support group established to help, support, encourage men and women suffering from alcohol addiction. This group is anonymous and volunteer based where people from different race, gender, and socioeconomic status share their stories of substance addictions. Based on the dynamics, this addiction has no prejudice. Many people are unaware that alcohol is a depressant in which slows down one's motor skills and the ability to think rational. This inability can lead to the person harming themselves and others. Many alcoholics used this drug as a way of coping with depression, stress, or loses. This support group will enable the attendees to become open with their addiction, explore other option, and eventually cease this
I chose to attend the Alcoholic Anonymous meeting at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church on the north side of Chicago. I chose to visit a church because I wanted to see if there was a religious aspect thrown into the session. The name of the session was called Big Book Stop Study. This session occurs every Monday at 7:00pm, as an open meeting. The meeting lasted for an hour. The session was led by three members, Kyle, Tamara, and Melissa. There was fourteen participants within the group. I was very apprehensive about attending a meeting because I didn’t want to be seen as an alcoholic. For that very reason, I understand how hard it may be for some to admit to their alcoholism, due to the negative connotation that comes with the name. To some, that may seem like a short span of time. However, upon visiting this particular session I saw progression in each participant. I was very pleased with what I witnessed as a visitor.
One Thursday night, I ventured out to into the warm early autumn night. I headed to a local hospital, where I knew there was Al-Anon meetings held once every two weeks. I believed that this would be a prime opportunity to witness a self-help group that was geared towards helping the relatives and loved ones of addicts deal with the terror of living with, or without, the addict in question. Addiction is a disease which impacts so many more lives than just the addict themselves. Al-Anon meetings are meant to help support the efforts of those loved ones as they face very different issues associated with addiction.
Al-Anon, is a mutual support group for family members and friends of alcoholics. Relatives and friends can share their experiences, strength, and hope to others to help solve their common problems. The main purpose of Al-Anon is to help friends and family of alcoholics by practicing the twelve steps, welcoming and giving comfort to those affected by an alcoholic. Also, by giving understanding and encouragement to the alcoholic.
The two community-based support groups I decided to choose were both Alcoholic Anonymous meetings. One meeting took place at a Baptist Church and the other took place at a community center.
In the United States, there are many support groups and programs available to individuals seeking recovery from hardships, addictions, or struggles. Members with similar experiences meet together to encourage, advise, and provide support for one another in order to promote recovery. One well-known support group, Alcoholics Anonymous, is a 12-step program – a support group that applies a series of 12 steps in order to achieve recovery. 12-step programs and support groups can be spotted almost anywhere, including at churches, medical facilities, as well as in schools. AA’s 12-step program and 12Stone Care’s non-12-step grief group are examples of groups that provide services to individuals and offer support for those who are taking steps towards
There are several different kinds of psychoeducational groups for addictions: Alcoholics Anonymous, Smart Recovery, Nar-Anon, and so many more. Although those these groups may focus on different types of addiction one thing they all had in common to decide how the group was to be formed. Each one group has their own unique why on how it is ran, but according to to Hepworth, Rooney, Dewberry-Rooney, and Strom-Gottfried success of a group rests largely on the thoughtful creation
Alcoholics Anonymous is mutual aid group that supports individuals in their recovery from alcohol dependence. Established in the mid 1930’s, Alcoholics Anonymous was borne from the principals of self-improvement and mutual aid practiced by the Oxford Group. The Oxford Group was a popular religious movement in the United States and Europe at that time. (AA)
Group therapy has evolved so much that the participant are learning how to help themselves and others. Self-help groups are one of the most popular forms of group therapy. One of the most known self-help groups is Alcoholics Anonymous also known as A.A. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is an international organization produced to assist alcoholics to recover and live alcohol free lives. It was founded by Bill Wilson and Robert Holbrook Smith in 1935. It is a program, complete with twelve steps and twelve traditions, that was put together to help addicts
This idea of alcoholics helping each other spread slowly throughout until 1939. At this point, a group of a hundred sober members wrote and published the book Alcoholics Anonymous, which they refer to now as the “Big Book.” In 1941, A.A. become widely known because of an article printed in a national magazine that was widely read, The Saturday Evening Post. (Kinney & Leaton, page 268).
The objective of this study is to write a reaction on a 12-step meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous with the focus of the meeting being attitude modification. The meeting attended was the Stairway Group meeting in Decatur, Alabama. The members who attended this group meeting were of all ages, of both the female and male gender and were white, black, and Hispanic individuals. The majority of the attendees were males.
I attended an A.A. meeting on April 5, 2010. Before the meeting I seemed very anxious. This was not my first meeting I have been to meetings before but they all seem to make me nervous. When I arrived the nervousness had eased off because everyone had made me feel welcomed. I was made to feel like a part of their family from the beginning to the end of the meeting. I seemed to have realized I missed going to these meetings and I miss the fellowship but it has not interfered with me staying sober.
When first reading the requirements of this assignment I was quite hesitant in approaching group counselling sessions as I was not aware of any in my area. A friend of mine whom I had not seen in a while told me that she was in a rehab facility for a month and was attending an